Norman Lear

Norman Lear

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Main

About

Norman Lear is an actor, writer, producer, director, and creator of such legendary sitcoms as All In The Family, Good Times, Sanford And Son, The Jeffersons, Maude, and many others which defined and revolutionized American television.

In 1959, Lear created his first television series for NBC, The Deputy, starring Henry Fonda. The show ran for two successful seasons, and ended in 1961.

Lear started his comedic writing career in 1967 when he wrote and produced the film, Divorce American Style and directed the film Cold Turkey starring Dick Van Dyke.

Perhaps his best known series, All In The Family, came about when he read about a British show called 'Til Death Do Us Part, about a father and a son-in-law who fought constantly about everything politically. He realized it was much like his relationship with his own father. Based on this idea, he wrote a pilot, and CBS premiered the show on January 12, 1971.

Sanford And Son, created with Bud Yorkin, debuted in 1972. This sitcom was also inspired by a British sitcom, Steptoe and Son.

Maude, a spin-off from All In The Family starring Bea Arthur, premiered in 1972. From Maude came another spin-off, Good Times, and yet another spin-off was created from All in the Family, The Jeffersons.

Lear's shows are known for their strong, diverse characters and provocative and often controversial stories.

Lear is also known for his strong political views, having created People for the American Way, a political lobbying group.

Norman Lear was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1984.

Photos

Tyler Grey, Kevin McKidd, Mike Royce, Norman Lear, Mikko Alanne, and David Boreanaz at Veterans Day: Television and the Military Experience, a special Television Academy member event, on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California

Norman Lear and David Boreanaz arrive at Veterans Day: Television and the Military Experience, a special Television Academy member event, on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California

Mike Royce and Norman Lear onstage at Veterans Day: Television and the Military Experience, a special Television Academy member event, on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California

Mike Royce, Norman Lear, and Mikko Alanne at Veterans Day: Television and the Military Experience, a special Television Academy member event, on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California

Paula Coughlin, Norman Lear, and Elizabeth Kristen at Veterans Day: Television and the Military Experience, a special Television Academy member event, on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California

Norman Lear onstage at Veterans Day: Television and the Military Experience, a special Television Academy member event, on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California

Norman Lear and Gloria Calderon Kellett onstage at The Power of TV: A Conversation with Norman Lear and One Day at a Time, presented by the Television Academy Foundation and Netflix in celebration of the Foundation's 20th Anniversary of THE INTERVIEWS: An Oral History Project, on Monday, June 19, 2017 in the Wolf Theatre at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.

Marcel Ruiz, Isabella Gomez, and Mike Royce onstage at The Power of TV: A Conversation with Norman Lear and One Day at a Time, presented by the Television Academy Foundation and Netflix in celebration of the Foundation's 20th Anniversary of THE INTERVIEWS: An Oral History Project, on Monday, June 19, 2017 in the Wolf Theatre at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.

Moderator Michael Schneider onstage at The Power of TV: A Conversation with Norman Lear and One Day at a Time, presented by the Television Academy Foundation and Netflix in celebration of the Foundation's 20th Anniversary of THE INTERVIEWS: An Oral History Project, on Monday, June 19, 2017 in the Wolf Theatre at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.

Norman Lear onstage at The Power of TV: A Conversation with Norman Lear and One Day at a Time, presented by the Television Academy Foundation and Netflix in celebration of the Foundation's 20th Anniversary of THE INTERVIEWS: An Oral History Project, on Monday, June 19, 2017 in the Wolf Theatre at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.

The cast and creators of One Day at a Time at The Power of TV: A Conversation with Norman Lear and One Day at a Time, presented by the Television Academy Foundation and Netflix in celebration of the Foundation's 20th Anniversary of THE INTERVIEWS: An Oral History Project, on Monday, June 19, 2017 in the Wolf Theatre at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.

Paul Krekorian, Television Academy CFO and EVP of Business Operations Heather Cochran, and Illyanne Kichaven at The Power of TV: A Conversation with Norman Lear and One Day at a Time, presented by the Television Academy Foundation and Netflix in celebration of the Foundation's 20th Anniversary of THE INTERVIEWS: An Oral History Project, on Monday, June 19, 2017 in the Wolf Theatre at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.

Rita Moreno and Charlotte Rae at The Power of TV: A Conversation with Norman Lear and One Day at a Time, presented by the Television Academy Foundation and Netflix in celebration of the Foundation's 20th Anniversary of THE INTERVIEWS: An Oral History Project, on Monday, June 19, 2017 in the Wolf Theatre at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.

Rita Moreno onstage at The Power of TV: A Conversation with Norman Lear and One Day at a Time, presented by the Television Academy Foundation and Netflix in celebration of the Foundation's 20th Anniversary of THE INTERVIEWS: An Oral History Project, on Monday, June 19, 2017 in the Wolf Theatre at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.

Marcel Ruiz and Isabella Gomez onstage at The Power of TV: A Conversation with Norman Lear and One Day at a Time, presented by the Television Academy Foundation and Netflix in celebration of the Foundation's 20th Anniversary of THE INTERVIEWS: An Oral History Project, on Monday, June 19, 2017 in the Wolf Theatre at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.

Charlotte Rae arrives at The Power of TV: A Conversation with Norman Lear and One Day at a Time, presented by the Television Academy Foundation and Netflix in celebration of the Foundation's 20th Anniversary of THE INTERVIEWS: An Oral History Project, on Monday, June 19, 2017 in the Wolf Theatre at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.

The cast and producers of One Day at a Time onstage at The Power of TV: A Conversation with Norman Lear and One Day at a Time, presented by the Television Academy Foundation and Netflix in celebration of the Foundation's 20th Anniversary of THE INTERVIEWS: An Oral History Project, on Monday, June 19, 2017 in the Wolf Theatre at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.

Dick Robertson and Norman Lear at The Power of TV: A Conversation with Norman Lear and One Day at a Time, presented by the Television Academy Foundation and Netflix in celebration of the Foundation's 20th Anniversary of THE INTERVIEWS: An Oral History Project, on Monday, June 19, 2017 in the Wolf Theatre at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.

Gloria Calderon Kellett arrives at The Power of TV: A Conversation with Norman Lear and One Day at a Time, presented by the Television Academy Foundation and Netflix in celebration of the Foundation's 20th Anniversary of THE INTERVIEWS: An Oral History Project, on Monday, June 19, 2017 in the Wolf Theatre at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.

Ted Sarandos and Norman Lear arrive at The Power of TV: A Conversation with Norman Lear and One Day at a Time, presented by the Television Academy Foundation and Netflix in celebration of the Foundation's 20th Anniversary of THE INTERVIEWS: An Oral History Project, on Monday, June 19, 2017 in the Wolf Theatre at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.

Isabella Gomez and Todd Grinnell at The Power of TV: A Conversation with Norman Lear and One Day at a Time, presented by the Television Academy Foundation and Netflix in celebration of the Foundation's 20th Anniversary of THE INTERVIEWS: An Oral History Project, on Monday, June 19, 2017 in the Wolf Theatre at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.

Stephen Tobolowsky onstage at The Power of TV: A Conversation with Norman Lear and One Day at a Time, presented by the Television Academy Foundation and Netflix in celebration of the Foundation's 20th Anniversary of THE INTERVIEWS: An Oral History Project, on Monday, June 19, 2017 in the Wolf Theatre at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.

Gloria Calderon Kellett, Justina Machado, and Rita Moreno onstage at The Power of TV: A Conversation with Norman Lear and One Day at a Time, presented by the Television Academy Foundation and Netflix in celebration of the Foundation's 20th Anniversary of THE INTERVIEWS: An Oral History Project, on Monday, June 19, 2017 in the Wolf Theatre at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.

Todd Grinnell onstage at The Power of TV: A Conversation with Norman Lear and One Day at a Time, presented by the Television Academy Foundation and Netflix in celebration of the Foundation's 20th Anniversary of THE INTERVIEWS: An Oral History Project, on Monday, June 19, 2017 in the Wolf Theatre at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.

Television Academy Foundation board member Kevin Hamburger and guests at The Power of TV: A Conversation with Norman Lear and One Day at a Time, presented by the Television Academy Foundation and Netflix in celebration of the Foundation's 20th Anniversary of THE INTERVIEWS: An Oral History Project, on Monday, June 19, 2017 in the Wolf Theatre at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.

Norman Lear, Charlotte Rae, and Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos at The Power of TV: A Conversation with Norman Lear and One Day at a Time, presented by the Television Academy Foundation and Netflix in celebration of the Foundation's 20th Anniversary of THE INTERVIEWS: An Oral History Project, on Monday, June 19, 2017 in the Wolf Theatre at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.

Norman Lear and friend at The Power of TV: A Conversation with Norman Lear and One Day at a Time, presented by the Television Academy Foundation and Netflix in celebration of the Foundation's 20th Anniversary of THE INTERVIEWS: An Oral History Project, on Monday, June 19, 2017 in the Wolf Theatre at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.